Solar reactor combustion chamber

Abstract

A solar reactor combustion chamber is disclosed which includes a concrete or other suitable housing having a reactor chamber and a combustion chamber therein. A solar intensifier, such as a parabolic reflector, is mounted on top of the reactor housing. The parabolic reflector collects and intensifies solar rays and guides them through a solar sight glass, mounted on top of the housing, into the reactor chamber. The concentrated beam of light is directed onto a light disperser within the reactor chamber which disperses solar rays throughout the chamber. Molecular hydrogen and chlorine is conducted into the reactor chamber wherein in the presence of light the chlorine molecules expand into atomic chlorine. The chlorine and hydrogen molecules are forced into the combustion chamber together with oxygen wherein the chlorine and hydrogen react with controlled explosive violence to form HCl. The heat and pressure thus formed are utilized to heat or drive suitable utilization devices, such as turbines or pistons.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A reactor comprising a reactor chamber;   means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber;   means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby ionize said chlorine and hydrogen;   a combustion chamber;   valve means communicating said reaction chamber with said combustion chamber; and   means for controllably coupling oxygen into said combustion chamber, said ionized hydrogen and chlorine passing through said valve into said combustion chamber to exothermically react therein to form hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level.   
     
     
       2. The reactor combustion chamber of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is solar radiation. 
     
     
       3. The reactor of claim 2 further comprising means for concentrating said electro-magnetic radiation;   means for directing said concentrated radiation into said reaction chamber; and   means for dispersing said radiation in said reaction chamber so that said radiation is dispersed throughout said chamber.   
     
     
       4. The reactor of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is generated by an artificial means. 
     
     
       5. A reactor combustion engine comprising a reactor chamber;   means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber;   means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby expand said chlorine and hydrogen and to ionize said chlorine and hydrogen;   a combustion chamber;   valve means communicating said reaction chamber with said combustion chamber; and   means for controllably coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber, said chlorine and hydrogen reacting exothermically in said combustion chamber in the presence of said oxygen to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level, at least one block of low permeability impervious silicon carbide having a relatively large conductive-convective radiation-receiving side surface and a relatively small depth dimension positioned in said combustion chamber, a fluid-conducting channel formed in said block in the form of a grid so that said channel passes in proximity to a substantial portion of said radiation-receiving sides of said block, said high temperature exothermic reaction in said combustion chamber heating said silicon carbide block to thereby heat said fluid passing therethrough.   
     
     
       6. The reactor combustion engine of claim 5 wherein said silicon carbide block comprises "KT" silicon carbide. 
     
     
       7. The reactor combustion engine of claim 6 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is solar radiation. 
     
     
       8. The reactor combustion engine of claim 7 further comprising means for concentrating said electro-magnetic radiation;   means for directing said concentrated radiation into said chamber; and   means for dispersing said radiation in said chamber so that some radiation is dispersed throughout the chamber.   
     
     
       9. A reactor combustion engine comprising a reactor chamber;   means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber;   means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby expand said hydrogen and chlorine and to ionize said hydrogen and chlorine;   a combustion chamber;   valve means communicating said reaction chamber with said combustion chamber;   means for coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber to thereby exothermically react said hydrogen and said chlorine to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level;   a turbine; and   means for communicating said combustion chamber with said turbine to permit said generated hydrogen chloride at high pressure and temperature to drive the rotor of said turbine.   
     
     
       10. The reactor combustion engine of claim 9 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is generated by artificial means. 
     
     
       11. A solar reactor combustion engine comprising a solar reactor chamber;   means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said solar reactor chamber;   means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby expand said hydrogen and chlorine and to ionize said hydrogen and said chlorine;   a combustion chamber;   valve means for communicating said reaction chamber with said combustion chamber;   an engine housing, said reactor chamber and said combustion chamber being positioned with respect to said engine housing, said engine housing forming a cylinder therein;   a piston for reciprocally moving within said cylinder;   means for controllably coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber to thereby exothermically react said hydrogen and chlorine to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level, said high pressure hydrogen chloride forcing said piston downwardly in said cylinder; and   means for exhausting said hydrogen chloride and said oxygen.   
     
     
       12. The solar reactor combustion engine of claim 11 further comprising means for concentrating said solar radiation;   means for directing said concentrated radiation into said reaction chamber; and   means for dispersing said radiation in said reaction chamber so that said radiation is dispersed throughout the chamber.